Morgan State Still Has Nightmares from 2007

It's homecoming 2009 and yes I am a Delaware State Hornet Alumni. On October 24, the game will be very different when the Hornets play Morgan State. Morgan State are tied with South Carolina State for 1st place in the MEAC standings.

This will the Homecoming rematch from 2007 when the Hornets won on a game winning 99 yard fumble return for a touchdown by Akeem Green. Everybody remembers the 3:30pm game back in October 2007 when Morgan State almost had the game in the bag to dashed our homecoming dreams.

With nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and the bears up 17-16, Morgan State running back Courtney Anderson dives forwards to the goal line. Touchdown for Morgan State right, wrong!!! The ball was fumbled in the endzone and Akeem Green was the only hornet who knew that the play was not over. He picked up the fumble and ran 100 yards to the endzone that got Hornet fans gone crazy & excited while Morgan State were whining and crying that Anderson scored a touchdown.

There were no instant replays in the MEAC Conference and the referees confirm it was a touchdown and DSU went on to win the game 25-17.

Several days later the MEAC Conference refs admitted that the call should be change into a touchdown and not a fumble. As a result the MEAC suspended the referees and the Hornets went on to finished the season as MEAC Champions.

This year 2009, different. Morgan State has destiny on their side and since it is a raining day this should be the Bears advantage to win just like last years homecoming at Morgan State when they defeated the Hornets 20-3.

Anything can happen at DSU's homecoming remember the last time the Hornets lost a Homecoming game was 2004 when South Carolina State beat the Hornets 27-14. Morgan State ran into a problem with the Hornets at homecoming when the Hornets won at home in 2005 and their homecoming in 2006.

This is a special time for the Hornets because they are 8-2 at homecoming against Morgan State and 29-11 overall against opponents.

I hope the Hornets doesn't disappoint the fans when kickoff comes because if they lose at homecoming, you will hear a whole lot of frustrated Hornets fans.

Delaware State are No Strangers to the state of Michigan

Before the Hornets take the field against the University of Michigan, little do every sports fan know that the Delaware State Hornets' football team are no strangers to the Great Lake state of Michigan.

Let's give them a little history lesson shall we?

September 2, 2006 the Hornets took over Labor Day weekend with a 34-14 win over Florida A&M in the Detroit City Football Classic. A lot of people in Detroit didn't know who Delaware State University was. Guess what? The hornets let the people in Detroit know who the Hornets was by making their mark in Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. Two defensive touchdowns to start the game thanks to Stephon Hopkins and Russell "The Hitman" Reeves, then the offensive running game prove to be effective as Emmanuel March rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown while quarter back Vashon ran for a 11 yard scored to secured the win.

Hornets head coach AL Lavan coached at Eastern Michigan from 2002-2003. During his one year tenure, he was a running backs coach and a interim head coach where he won two of his three games he coached.

Offensive Coordinator Doug Sams was head coach of Northern Michigan from 2002-2005.

The hornets have some Michigan experience but they will in a dog fight with the Wolverines who are 4-2 and looking to forget the upset of what happen to Division I-AA opponent Application State back when they beat Michigan in September 2007.

Defense Very Well but Bad Offense Dooms The Hornets

The running game managed just 71 yards on the ground as the Hornets struggling offense continues.

This was a game that Hornets would've won the game. Instead the Hornets let the winless Bethune-Cookman hang around all game long in a disappointed, low scoring 9-7 loss.

This was a game that the Hornets should have no problem against a Wildcat team whose defense was not even impressive. Instead the Hornets shot themselves in the foot and let Bethune Cookman get chances to win the game.

First let's start with the defense. They did a very good job stalling drives, make the Wildcats offense to make terrible penalties, and pressuring Wildcat quarterback Maurice Francois all night long. Once again they give up a chunk of yards with 350yards and a few big plays down the stretch, plus the defense was on the field for over 40 minutes.

The Hornets can't rely their defense all the time to bail them out because the defense needs to rest and recharge for the next series. When you have that stayed in the ball game for 40 minutes something tells me that the defense will get tired if the offense doesn't help the defense out.

Speaking of the offense, the offense put on a terrible performance with only nine first downs the entire game (two in the second half). Also Anthony Glaud was injured late in the first quarter and didn't return. Before the injury, Glaud was overthrowing passes and the wide receivers are not getting their best routes to make catches.

The running game got abandoned most of the game where they only ran for 71 yards plus during the final 2:00 of the fourth quarter freshman quarterback Nick Elko made some great passes but the wide receivers couldn't catch the ball and then he overthrew the ball for a interception.

I don't know who the blame the lost on, the offense, the play calling, the offensive coaches, coach Al Lavan, or Riley Flickinger who miss two field goals.

Now the Hornets will have to face a very tough Michigan team this week on T.V. called The Big Ten Network before going back home against Morgan State for Homecoming. This is not a good October to start for the Hornets.

Keys To the Game for a Hornets Victory

The Hornets will host the Bethune Cookman Wildcats in their home opener under the lights. As the Hornets football team prepares to get their second conference win here are the keys to the game.

-On offense, the Hornets were able to finished drives with touchdowns especially when they get into the opponents territory. If they continue that trend then the Hornets will be successful. Also expect Tahree McQueen to be having a very good running game and Anthony Glaud and his receivers are doing okay but still need work on the deep throws and dropped passes.

-On defense, the Hornets are only have only opponents under 20 points a game this season forcing turnover and making big plays to stall drives. Apply pressure and pressure all game because Bethune Cookman's offensive game is very fast with speed to burn. The problem is that the defense has given up a chunk of yards against their opponents and making penalties.

-On special teams, the kicking game has got be sharp especially Riley Flickinger. He must connect on flied goals, extra points, and kicking off the football inbounds instead of out-of-bounds. The return team must give the offense a chance to gain good field position.

The Hornets September Wrap-Up

September was a up and down month for the Delaware State Hornet Fall Athletics. There were several sports that couldn't fit the right notes but fought hard against non-conference opponents. As we begin the month of October here is the recap of the best of September for fall sports.

Lady Hornets Volleyball
The lady hornets Volleyball team had high expectations this season especially trying to compete for the MEAC Championship. Plus Cassandra Joyner had her 1,000th career kill on September 11th at home

So far August and September it's been a up and down season as the lady hornets are a game under .500 at 9-10. They begin the season losing their five of their first six games. Then on September 5th the lady hornets begin to get hot riding a five game game winning streak before losing tough matches to Bucknell, Rutgers, Radford, and La Salle. On September 25 and 26, the DSU begin MEAC play against North Carolina A&T, Winston Salem State, and the new member of the MEAC Conference North Carolina Central. St. Francis got pay back on September 29 to end the lady hornets three game winning streak.

October begins the lady hornets can breathe a little easy after participating in five tournaments in one month. They will begin October with their non-conference game at Lehigh on Tuesday and then begin their MEAC Conference schedule on the weekend of October 9 at home against Hampton and UMES. Then the remainder of October the Lady Hornets will have four of their five games on the road starting with Howard (October 16), Morgan State at home (October 18), Coppin State (October 23), Hampton (October 25), and UMES (October 30).

Lady Hornets Soccer
New Conference, Same Results

The lady hornets soccer are playing in their second season under new head coach Nitan Soni and in their new conference the Great West Conference. The problem is that the lady hornets offense has a tough time scoring goals and winning games. The lady hornets are getting shutout seven times by their opponents, getting outscored 35-2, and manage just two goals all season.

The Lady Hornets has got to find ways to score goals and prevent other teams to gain two or more goals. The lady hornets have whole month of October to turn this season around when they play South Carolina State (twice), Howard, St. Peter's, NJIT (twice), and Wilmington College. If they can do that they could gain momentum for the Great West Conference tournament.

Men's and Lady Hornets Cross Country
September 5 The UMES "Lid-Lifter"
Men and ladies finished 5th

September 12 The Towson Invitational
Men and ladies finished 3rd

September 19 The UD Invitational
Men and Ladies finished 4th

This was the best September for the men's and lady hornets cross country team as they finished in the top 5 in three straight meets. They have already started October by finishing in the top 5 at the their own invitational as the men finished 3rd and the ladies finished 2nd. If they finished in the top 5 at the Delaware Invitational on October 10th they could building momentum to take first place at the MEAC Championships on October 24.

Hornets Football
Everybody already knows what season the Hornets football team will progress. They have already started a season with a forfeit loss to North Carolina A&T, gave up over 350 yards against Florida A&M, then they put their in-state rival University of Delaware to the limit in a loss, and against Hampton the defense was strong by only giving up six points. The offense finished drives in the red zone for touchdowns and that's how you play Hornets football. Now October will be a interesting month when they finally return home against Bethune Cookman (October 10), then a non-conference game in the Big House of Michigan (October 17), Homecoming against Morgan State (October 24 remember the fumble in 2007?) finish off October against last year's MEAC Champion South Carolina on Halloween. I know we don't have a chance against Michigan but if we can win these conference games in October we could be in the driver's seat for a winning season.

Hornets End September with their First Win of the Season

What a brilliant Saturday night performance for the Hornets football team. The hornets build that momentum from their in-state rivalry game and defeat Hampton University 21-6 to earned their first win of the season. It was all defense for the Hornets as they intercepted three pirate passes (two by Greg Ligon and one return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter by Olusrgun Ayanbiola), blocked a field goal, and kept them out of scoring range through most of the game.

The offense in the first half was remarkable in the second quarter as the Hornets offense, led by Anthony Glaud, had two possessions in the red zone and scored two touchdowns. This was compared to September 19 were the Hornets had mad opportunities in Blue Hen territory and ended up with a touchdown and a field goal.

Also I seen a tricked play buy the Hornets punt team as they fake the punt to Tahree McQueen and went an extra eight yards for a first down to the drive going. He finished with 127 total yards of offense and earn MEAC Rookie of the Week Honors.

Hampton countered with a fake punt of their own to Isiah Thomas (no that the basketball player who used to play for the Pistons and coach the Knicks don't get it confused)and ran 55 yards for a first down.

There were three reasons on why Hampton beat themselves:

1. The kicking team was so sloppy all night long missing two field goals and a extra point.

2. Once again penalties have sunk the Pirate ship as they were flagged 14 times for 141 yards.

3. Even though the Pirates had 390 yards of total offense they were 0 for 2 in red zone scoring chances, 5 for 16 on third down conversations, and couldn't able to finish drives in Hornet territory.

The Hornets will have a big October coming up to determine if they could finish a winning season or a another dissapointing season. The test begins October 10 at home against Bethune Cookman.

Also a congratulations to punter Nick Lochner for being named MEAC Special Team Player of the Week.

Delaware State vs University of Delaware: Game 2 Football: Hornets Gained Respect but Missed Opportunities Cost the Hornets the Game

Everyone will remember that date from September 19 as the most competitive game Delaware State has ever played against the University of Delaware. The atmosphere was remarkable electric as both fans from their respective school begin kickoff.

The entire first half was a defensive struggle as the Hornets and Hens kept each other on pace. On the offensive side of the football, the Hornets had four of five tries to score in the UD territory/the red zone but end up with no points. There footballs that would've been caught by our wide receivers but end up being drop passes. Either that or Anthony Glaud kept overthrowing the football, also penalties has the kept the Hornets offense off rhythm for most of the game.

The biggest play of the first half is when the Hornets defense made a goal line stance and prevented the Blue Hens from scoring the one yard touchdown with one second left. Blue Hen fans thought it was a touchdown but it was not and Blue Hen fans were booing the refs before The Approaching Storm Marching Band begin their halftime show.

During the second half I thought the momentum will shift in the Hornets favor but wasn't the case because the Blue Hen had suddenly begin to come back to life late in the third quarter with the Blue Hens marched down the field and scoring in the red zone. Hornets tried to get the ball in the endzone where they were in the red zone but Glaud pass that was attended to a Delaware State player was intercepted and UD took over from there.

The fourth quarter really got interesting. After the Blue Hens scored some of the fans started to leave early because it look like another blow out since it was 21-3 UD. But the Hornets didn't quit, Jerome Struggs returned an interception for a touchdown and just like that we are still in business. That's all came crashing down when UD had a huge kickoff return to put themselves in good field position to score yet again until Delaware State's offense finally scored a touchdown with less than 30seconds to go.

After the game everyone talked about how the game was so different from their playoff game back in 2007 (remember 44-7 UD over DSU). Blue Hen coach K.C. Keeler was right the Hornets were better than they was two years ago when they won the MEAC Conference. The hornets gave the blue hens a run for their money but ran out gas late in the third quarter into the fourth quarter.

Give the Hornets credit for staying in the game all game even when they were down 21-3. The stats are almost even but we had the ball longer but we turned over the ball twice. The offense needs to finish drives for touchdowns if they want to have a winning season in the MEAC Conference.